Historic Boon Siew Villa demolished to make way for luxury condo project

New Straits Times

25-05-2025

GEORGE TOWN: Penang's rich heritage has once again suffered a blow with the loss of one of its landmarks.
The Boon Siew Villa, once a majestic coastal home at Shamrock Beach in Jalan Batu Ferringhi, has been demolished to make way for a luxury development.
Hoarding has been erected around the site and a construction crew has moved in to begin the building of the 43-storey Ascott Residences Batu Ferringhi condominium project.
The loss is felt not just by the people who lived near the villa, which stood as a symbol of old Penang, but also heritage advocates who see it as another blow to the state's historical landscape.
They said the villa, with sweeping views of the Tanjung Bungah coastline, was not just a building but also a monument to history and the life of Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew, the self-made tycoon who introduced Honda cub motorcycles to Malaysia.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Clement Liang expressed his disappointment over the demolition.
"The Boon Siew Villa was not just a house; it was a living part of Penang's history. It had a unique place in our heritage.
"It is deeply regrettable that the developer chose to demolish it rather than incorporate it into their new development plans," he told the New Straits Times.
Liang, a long-time advocate in preserving Penang's heritage, said the villa was not the only historical structure facing such a fate.
Many other heritage buildings, especially those outside the George Town World Heritage Site, lack legal protection and are at risk of demolition.
"Unfortunately, many buildings are not protected and there is a lack of effort to preserve them. These buildings are more than just four walls — they are part of history; the stories of our town," he added.
Last October, Singaporean real estate and lodging company, The Ascott Ltd, joined forces with Instant Icon Sdn Bhd (VST Property Group) to develop Ascott Residences Batu Ferringhi.
This upscale seafront development is expected to open its doors in January 2028 and is set to elevate Penang's luxury living landscape.
But for heritage advocates, this is far too costly.
"The loss of such landmarks is like erasing part of the city's memory. Each time a historical building is replaced, we lose a part of what makes Penang unique," said Liang.
The demolition of Boon Siew Villa is yet another chapter in a growing narrative of historical buildings being sacrificed for development.
Liang said other landmarks that could fall victims to the city's development boom included the Art Deco buildings along Chow Thye Road.
"These are private properties and without strong legal protections, there is little to stop these buildings from being torn down for new developments," he said.